Basement floods are common occurrences in this part of Indiana, and they’re responsible for costly damages in many area homes. To prevent this from happening in your home, your sump pump needs to keep your basement dry, but there are a number of issues that can stop it from doing its job.
- Your pump isn’t powerful enough. If you have an average amount of water infiltration, you need at least a 1/3 horsepower sump pump that can handle 35 gallons a minute. If your lot has a high water table, you may want to upgrade to a 1/2 horsepower pump that can push out 60 gallons of water per minute.
- The float switch stuck. You reply on the float switch to start up the pump when it detects rising water, and you’ll end up with a flooded basement if it gets stuck against the wall of your sump pit. Tethered floats are prone to this, so invest in a vertical float, and avoid any with a mechanical pressure switch, because they’re more likely to fail.
- The discharge pipe froze. If it doesn’t have the proper pitch, water can collect in the discharge pipe, and there’s a good chance it will freeze at some point over the winter. Once it’s blocked by ice, the water your pump is pushing out has nowhere to go, and the sump pit will eventually overflow and your basement will flood.
- Your pump wore out. Sump pumps get a lot of use, so it’s inevitable that yours will wear out and fail at some point. You can help avoid the unpleasant surprise of a flooded basement by replacing your pump every 5 to 7 years.
- There’s a power outage. Your electric sump pump can’t do what it needs to when the power is off, which leaves your basement completely vulnerable. A battery-operated backup pump is a smart investment that can protect your home and possessions from water damage when the lights go out.
For expert help with sump pump issues in your Gary area home, contact us at Meyer’s today.